A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

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AAndy
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A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynmawr

Post by AAndy »

As Jeremai pointed out in the Brynmawr to Tredegar dualling thread the next stage of the Heads Of The Valley road construction gets underway tomorrow, the 5th January 2015.

See the official website: http://a465gilwern2brynmawr.co.uk/

Here are some photo's from last week of the section travelling from Gilwern to Brynmawr, probably not that different from what's on streetview though.

All photo's 1920p wide on Flickr

1. East of the Gilwern Roundabout
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk b by Dskies, on Flickr

2.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr a by Dskies, on Flickr

3.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk c by Dskies, on Flickr

4.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk d by Dskies, on Flickr

5.Where the recent Abergavenny to Gilwern Dualling works ends
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk e by Dskies, on Flickr

6. The western side of Gilwern road, eastbound only.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk f by Dskies, on Flickr

7.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk g by Dskies, on Flickr

8.Impressive steps on left for footbridge
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk h by Dskies, on Flickr

9.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk i by Dskies, on Flickr

10.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk j by Dskies, on Flickr

11.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk k by Dskies, on Flickr

12.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk l by Dskies, on Flickr

13. Beginning of the S2+1/S3 Clydach Gorge
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk m by Dskies, on Flickr

14.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk n by Dskies, on Flickr

15.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk o by Dskies, on Flickr

16.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk p by Dskies, on Flickr

17.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk q by Dskies, on Flickr

18.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk r by Dskies, on Flickr

19.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk s by Dskies, on Flickr

20.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk t by Dskies, on Flickr

21. the narrowest section of the 'gorge' ahead....should be an interesting construction phase.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk u by Dskies, on Flickr

22.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk v by Dskies, on Flickr

23.
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk w by Dskies, on Flickr

24.Brynmawr roundabout ahead
Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk x by Dskies, on Flickr
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AAndy
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by AAndy »

The scheme drive through is here... http://a465gilwern2brynmawr.co.uk/scheme-drive-through/

The Split level section is impressive but woeful is the trumpet junction for clydach (after 2:25 minutes on the westbound simulation) and a 50mph speed limit for the whole section?? ... I really hope that isn't going to be a reality.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by SteveA30 »

They might as well leave it as it is, if the 50 is permanent.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by AAndy »

SteveA30 wrote:They might as well leave it as it is, if the 50 is permanent.
I can't remember where I read it, but last week it was said that new sections of the A465 will have specs (an existing section already has them). But you are right steve, bar the GSJ's advantages, keeping it at 50mph will be the same as it is at moment and 20% slower than it was just a few years ago.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by SteveA30 »

Ridiculous. How can you overtake lorries on the downhill sections?
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by Jeni »

SteveA30 wrote:Ridiculous. How can you overtake lorries on the downhill sections?
Move into the outside lane and drive past? If they are going 50, then you don't need to overtake them, of course!
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by SteveA30 »

That's what I meant, if they are doing 50. :facepalm:
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by jeremai »

Thanks for starting the thread. This is going to be an interesting one to watch. Yes, the environmental statement states that this stretch will retain the 50mph speed limit:
Because of the constrained nature of the gorge the hardstrips and verges are narrower than would normally be expected for a road of this nature and the alignment includes tighter bends. This layout combined with the need to limit the air quality impacts of the road on the surrounding ecological sites requires that the whole length of the Scheme would be subject to a mandatory 50mph speed limit which would be monitored and enforced.
http://a465gilwern2brynmawr.files.wordp ... s_nts1.pdf (page 11)

I was disappointed when I first read that, as it does feel like it will be less of an improvement.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by Bryn666 »

It'll be a lot safer than the current road though. It's only a few miles of the overall A465.

Similar roads in the Alps have lower limits.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by AAndy »

jeremai wrote:Thanks for starting the thread. This is going to be an interesting one to watch. Yes, the environmental statement states that this stretch will retain the 50mph speed limit:
Because of the constrained nature of the gorge the hardstrips and verges are narrower than would normally be expected for a road of this nature and the alignment includes tighter bends. This layout combined with the need to limit the air quality impacts of the road on the surrounding ecological sites requires that the whole length of the Scheme would be subject to a mandatory 50mph speed limit which would be monitored and enforced.
http://a465gilwern2brynmawr.files.wordp ... s_nts1.pdf (page 11)

I was disappointed when I first read that, as it does feel like it will be less of an improvement.
Thanks
Bryn666 wrote:It'll be a lot safer than the current road though. It's only a few miles of the overall A465.

Similar roads in the Alps have lower limits.

Alpine roads similar? I don't agree

Safer? Not with junction designs like the Clydach westbound.

Its around 7 miles of 50mph and its a new build. Only the downhill eastbound section should have a 50mph surely?
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by Bryn666 »

If there is a reduced cross section and an environmental mitigation requirement then the 50 is a small price to pay for an improved road.

It's in a sodding canyon, it wasn't going to be built as a rural motorway.

And the A465 will massively outstrip the design of the N205 up to Mont Blanc, or the **** poor Italian autostrade.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by Glen »

SteveA30 wrote:That's what I meant, if they are doing 50. :facepalm:
How do you overtake cars that ate doing 70 mph on a motorway?
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by UTCPaul »

Glen wrote:
SteveA30 wrote:That's what I meant, if they are doing 50. :facepalm:
How do you overtake cars that ate doing 70 mph on a motorway?
Stay in lane 1 and just cruise past?
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by SteveA30 »

I never go that fast. 60 max most of the time.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by Glen »

Why are asking how to overtake vehicles travelling at the speed limit? I'm not sure what your point regarding this speed limit is.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by SteveA30 »

You really don't? It's a 50 limit on a D2, with GSJ's. Lorries and cars. Nothing more needs to be added.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

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Bryn666 wrote:If there is a reduced cross section and an environmental mitigation requirement then the 50 is a small price to pay for an improved road.

It's in a sodding canyon, it wasn't going to be built as a rural motorway.

And the A465 will massively outstrip the design of the N205 up to Mont Blanc, or the **** poor Italian autostrade.
There's a somewhat similar situation at Glandyfi on the A487.

Originally the road was NSL, but was so narrow that two goods vehicles couldn't pass (meaning 25 minute holdups), and 40 was probably pushing it.

Now the road's been massively re-engineered and widened, with two full size lanes each way, but with a 40 speed limit.

Am I annoyed? a bit, but considering the massive holdups 40 is a lot better than 0 mph
Built for comfort, not speed.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by Glen »

SteveA30 wrote:You really don't? It's a 50 limit on a D2, with GSJ's. Lorries and cars. Nothing more needs to be added.
So it's the same speed limit for all vehicles. What's the problem with that?

It has been explained why it is being built to lower engineering standards due to the constraints of the terrain, whilst that's not ideal, it's better than nothing happening because it's too expensive.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by Truvelo »

Often the road is designed to 50mph standards but can easily be negotiated at 70.
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Re: A465 Heads Of The Valleys Rd Dualling: Gilwern To Brynma

Post by AAndy »

I've done a comparison set of photo's from just over a week ago with the photos at the top of the page which I took in January.

I'll just put one up here, follow the flickr link for the other 22.

Imagea465 gilwern to brynmawr dualling road construction south wales uk q by Andy Davis, on Flickr
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